My next big Mini-Hike (yes I am aware of the oxymoron inherent in that phrase) came on 25th April, ANZAC day.  I like to partly think that I chose this walk in honour of my ancestor and his charge and death on Chunuk Bair, and I certainly did think on it as I walked up, mostly thinking about how I wouldn’t have even made it to the beach at Gallipoli, such a sad excuse of a physical specimen I am.

Anyway, I decided that I would go on another one of the walks I saw in Belmont Regional Park when I did the Waterfall Track.  I did a bit of research and decided that Boulder Hill is what I felt like doing.  Various descriptions had it from “easy” to “steep”, so figured it would be a good challenge.

I set off, wearing the new pair of boots I had bought a few weeks earlier, at about 9:30 am.  There was initially a sharp climb for a minute or two to a 4WD track which wound up the side of the Dry Creek Valley for about 1.5 km.  It was not too steep, but still a challenge and got me well out of breath, having to pause frequently.  But a good even track.  At the top I got my first sight of my goal and thought . . . oh bugger . . .

View from 4WD track of Boulder Hill in the distance.

the photo here doesn’t quite convey the impact, it did look both far away and high.  But, in the spirit of ANZAC I soldiered on, however not in the spirit of ANZAC I did complain a fair bit about it.

The track from here went off across farm land, and although there were a few declines, it was predominately an incline.  The transmission lines marked the half-way point (I discovered on the way back), and soon after the climb up Boulder Hill proper started.  At least I thought it did.

I got to a rest spot (read Park Bench) where another track meets the Boulder Hill track and rested for a spell.  Then continued on, and from there it did get proper steep.  I thought I was walking up hill before, I wasn’t. For the next kilometer it was serious hard graft.  But I was alone, and not on a clock, so could correctly pace myself.  And then finally . . . I wasn’t at the top.  It was one of those horrible moments where you get to where you think you are at the top, but then look further ahead and “OH CRAP!”.

At least is wasn’t too far to go.  Across a fence with a stile and then a short climb and I was at the top.  And it was an amazing sight, and an amazing feeling.  From the top of Boulder Hill I could see out to Wellington Harbour, across to Porirua harbour, and then back down the Hutt Valley from whence I came.  There was even a small pile of boulders to mark the summit.

The view of Wellington Harbour from the top of Boulder Hill

I took various photos and then sat down (in the wind which was significant) to enjoy a sandwich well earned, soaking in a feeling of accomplishment, not unlike that I am sure Sir Edmond Hillary felt on Everest.  Then a couple of woman jogged on past from the way I had just huffed and puffed up.  Cows.  Way to minimise my achievement.

View of Porirua Harbour from the top of Boulder Hill

Post sandwich I commenced on that which I was dreading the entire journey up . . .  the journey down.  Once again, slowly does it, and although not a technically ‘difficult’ as the Waterfall Track was on my knees, it was long, steep, and unrelenting decline.  I made it without much drama.  No slips or strains.  My knees ached like all-get-out, and there was the occasional sharp searing pain in the tendons behind my knee (a really strange and disturbing feeling).  But I made it.

The view of the Hutt Valley from the top of Boulder Hill

The rest of the walk, down the 4WD track was fairly routine.  I experimented a bit with different walking strides and technique to see what would hurt least.  I think “knees bent” is the way to go.  Not stiff legs – short strides.

By the time I reached the car I was pretty much at my endurance limit.  The knees were very sore and the legs getting stiff. For the rest of the day I was quite sore and stiff.  It got better later in the day, and the next day I was walking fine, and even put in my standard 4 km walk that The Plan™ dictated.  But the Monday after I decided I would benefit from a rest.  And it was a public holiday.

All up I am glad I did this Mini-Hike.  It was nearly 10 km, and took about 3 hours, which isn’t a bad pace for me.  And 5 km walk up the whole way is a decent effort.  It leaves me feeling like I might actually be able to do this Milford Track.

Next on the agenda is a Chateau to Mangatepopo Hutt walk in Tongariro National Park on Queens Birthday weekend (the end of May).  So my focus is on that now.

After my first week on The Plan™ I was feeling quietly confident and still optimistic about this entire endeavour.   I had already incorporated into The Plan™ to do a Mini-Hike on this first Saturday, and I wanted to keep it short.  So a bit of research into the local surrounds kicked up a couple of good looking walks at the near-by Dry Creek entrance to Belmont Regional Park.  Only about 7 minutes drive from home.

I figured that The Waterfall Track sounded like an ideal first up walk for me.  It was easy grade, about 35 min one way, ended in a waterfall.

It proved to be way more challenging than I was expecting.  The grade was easy, which was disconcerting because I still found it tough at times.  What was difficult was that it was basically walking up a stream bed – and it wasn’t dry.  The path crossed the stream regularly, really the best definition was “criss-crossed” and that wasn’t a problem.  What was a challenge for me was that the steps up and down were quite high.  Now I can step up just fine, stepping down is another issue.

Looking down the track from the Waterfall. It is really just a stream.

I have damaged my knees on a number of occasions through my life.  Starting when I was 16 when I completely twisted one knee 90º and then spent a week in hospital followed by 3 months in a full leg cast.  Since then I have dislocated my knee cap twice and am now very careful of twisting my knees.  My nightmare is that I will wrench my knee while out on one of these walks.  Even one as close to civilization as The Waterfall Track.

So any time I am presented with a uneven surface or even small drop I have to negotiate, it takes me time, and also hurts.

Interesting fact:  When walking a stress 3-6 times your body weight is exerted on your knees with each step, when walking down hill the forces on the knee are 3 to 4 times greater than level walking.  So for a man my weight, I have up to 4488 kg of compressive force on my knees when walking down hill!  No wonder they hurt!

Added to this stress was that I was walking over a lot of wet slippery stones.  Slipping makes Jordan sad.  I actually had one big slip on this walk on a boulder.  Luckily it was a slow slip, so could control it, to the dulcet tones of “oh f..k, f..k, f..k, f..k, f………….k!”

I did have my handy dandy hiking pole with me which was a big help.  Don’t leave home without it (honestly I don’t, I keep it in the boot of my car).

After about 40 minutes walking I was beginning to despair, not knowing how much further I had to go, and worrying that I would do to much to soon, and that I would get myself into a position I would struggle to get out of (even though the park’s website said that this walk was suitable for children, bugger it).  And was contemplating turning back and trying about another day, I spied the the waterfall ahead around a bend.

The Waterfall at the end of the Waterfall Track in Belmont Regional Park (Dry Creek entrance)

At this point I abandoned the track which wanted me to climb up and then down a particularly dodgy section of track (in my estimation) and just walked along the stream bed.  The waterfall itself was actually quite beautiful.  And all the more so for the effort I had to put in to get there.  All up it took me 45 minutes to get there.

On the walk out I was very circumspect with my foot placement and path I took.  I mostly abandoned the path and it’s ups and downs, and walked along the stream.  This seemed to work better for me, but was slow going.  By the time got out my legs were trembling.  My right forearm was very sore as a result of jarring it when I slipped, and the weight it was bearing onto the hiking pole.  But I made it, with little injury and a sense of accomplishment.

It was a little disheartening that what was essentially a simple walk caused me such hassles, but I have to bear in mind that it was only after one week of conditioning, and I didn’t expect to do well.

If I keep up doing those sorts of walks, my knee and leg strength will improve.  My balance and coordination will improve, and my risk of injury at Milford will decrease.

And I wasn’t too sore the next day.